Lubricating devices

ABSTRACT

This apparatus is a simple but efficient lubricating device consisting of two parts, an oil cup and a compression-type coil spring. Its purpose is to lubricate the bushings of a die set or other such device as the die set or other device is being driven up and down in a cyclic fashion as in a punch press operation.

United States Patent [72] Inventor [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 1,311,540 7/1919 Thomas.,........

Fred Balls 117 Baumford Ave. 8.15., Canton, Ohio 44707 [211 App]. No.860,484

[ Filed Sem241969 1,568,017 12/1925 Danly.................... Patented g6/1942 Jamszewskl......

4/1959 Whistler, SL et a1. Primary Examiner Frank T. Yost [54]LUBRICATING DEVICES 2 Claims, 1 Drawing F 1g. [52] US.

8 /637, ABSTRACT: This apparatus is a simple but efficient lubricatbeingdriven up and down in a cyclic fashion as in a punch press operation.

PATENTED M1831 19?:

W QZ Q Witnmw CALM. 3 Raw LUBRICATING DEVICES My invention relates tolubricators and more particularly to lubricators of that type comprisingan oil cup located below the bearing and containing a coil spring forconveying the oil to the bearing.

One specific application of my invention is the lubrication of die shoebushings which ride on the guide posts of a die set usually used inconjunction with a punch press.

Although my invention is not restricted to the lubrication of die shoebushings, this specific application will be referenced for conveniencein the following discussion.

As heretofore constructed, die shoe bushings have been lubricatedprimarily by the use of grease fittings located on the periphery of thebushing. This method has proven unsatisfactory due to clogging of thegrease fittings or the grease channels. Also, with present methods, itis difficult to ascertain that the bushing is being adequatelylubricated. Oftentimes, irrevocable damage occurs due to a clogged or aneglected grease fitting.

To overcome these objections and to improve on the reliability andperformance of existing methods of lubrication, l have devised thepresent invention. This invention seeks to provide a method to supply athin film of oil to the wear surfaces of the guidepost and bushing in asimple and efficient manner. The simplicity of this invention is borneout by the fact that it consists of only two parts, an oil cup and acoil spring.

The said invention further seeks to provide a lubrication device whichis easily installed and a device which allows its effectiveness to beascertained by simple visual inspection while in operation. Furthermore,the said invention is constructed in such a way as to allow the oil cupto be refilled while the lubrication device is in operation withoutmaking physical contact with any parts.

And the said invention still further seeks to provide a lubricationdevice which will supply adequate lubrication both at low and at highbearing speeds.

in order that the construction and operation of the said invention beclearly understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a die set in part with my inventionapplied thereto, parts being in elevation.

Referring to the drawing in detail, 1 designates the upper die shoe, 2designates the bushing, 3 the conventional grease fitting, 4 the guidepost, 5 the coil spring, 6 the oil cup, 7 the oil, 8 the oil cup seal,and 9 the lower die shoe. Under normal operation the lower die shoe 9 isheld fixed while the upper die shoe 1 is forced up and down as in atypical punch press operation. The guide post 4 acts as a guide for thebushing 2 which is pressed into the upper die shoe 1. The usual methodof lubricating the bushing is through the grease fitting 3. My inventionconsists of an oil cup 6 and a coil spring 6. The oil cup 6 fits snuglyon the guide post 4 and acts as an oil reservoir. The oil cup 6 is sopositioned on the guide post 4 so that when the upper die shoe l is inits lowest most state, the coil spring is compressed and is nearly fullysubmerged in the oil 7. While submerged, coil spring 5 absorbs oil ontoits surface. The subsequent upward movement of the upper die shoe llallows the coil spring 5 to expand beyond the top of the oil cup 6 andcarry the adsorbed oil up the guide post 4. In the process of expanding,the coil spring 5 transfers oil from the coil spring 5 to the guide post4 since the inside diameter of the coil spring 5 is just slightly largerthan the outside diameter ofthe guide post 4. The thin film of oiltransferred to the guide post 4, then lubricates the bushing 2, sincebushing 2 rides on guide post 4. The oil cup seal 8 prevents oil fromleaking out of the oil cup While the description and drawing given are apreferred embodiment of my invention, it will be readily understood bythose skilled in the art that the same may be modified in various waysto meet any particular or peculiar requirement,

without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

It will thus be seen that l ave provided a simple, inexpensive,efficient, and clogproof method of lubrication which allows itseffectiveness to be determined by visual inspection and which obviatesthe necessity of using the conventional grease fitting as a means oflubrication. Also, I have provided a device which can easily be refilledwith oil without making physical contact with the device and a devicewhich will operate at low and at high bearing speeds.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim is:

1. The combination with a die set comprising the usual upper die shoe,lower die shoe, guide posts and bushings, the said guide posts orientedsubstantially vertical, and the said upper die shoe and bushings beingdriven up and down on the guide posts by the usual means, of an oil cupcontaining oil and mounted coaxially one on each said! guide post, thelower internal diameter of said oil cup sealing, on said guide post toprevent oil leakage, a loose fitting coil spring supported by said oilcup and spiraling up and around said guide post and projecting beyondthe top of said oil cup with the purpose of conveying oil from said oilcup to said guide post and bushing.

2. The combination with a cylinder oriented in a substantially verticalmanner upon which rides a bearing being driven up and down in a regularfashion, of an oil cup containing oil and mounted coaxially on saidcylinder, the lower internal diameter of said oil cup sealing on saidcylinder to prevent oil leakage, a loose-fitting coil spring supportedby said oil cup and spiraling up and around said cylinder and projectingbeyond the top of said oilcup with the purpose of conveying oil fromsaid oil cup to said cylinder and bearing.

1. The combination with a die set comprising the usual upper die shoe, lower die shoe, guide posts and bushings, the said guide posts oriented substantially vertical, and the said upper die shoe and bushings being driven up and down on the guide posts by the usual means, of an oil cup containing oil and mounted coaxially one on each said guide post, the lower internal diameter of said oil cup sealing on said guide post to prevent oil leakage, a loose fitting coil spring supported by said oil cup and spiraling up and around said guide post and projecting beyond the top of said oil cup with the purpose of conveying oil from said oil cup to said guide post and bushing.
 2. The combination with a cylinder oriented in a substantially vertical manner upon which rides a bearing being driven up and down in a regular fashion, of an oil cup containing oil and mounted coaxially on said cylinder, the lower internal diameter of said oil cup sealing on said cylinder to prevent oil leakage, a loose-fitting coil spring supported by said oil cup and spiraling up and around said cylinder and projecting beyond the top of said oilcup with the purpose of conveying oil from said oil cup to said cylinder and bearing. 